Resilient bushing



May 3, 1938.l o. B. WELKER RESI'LIENT BUSHING Filed Dec. 5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1938. o. B. WELKER 2,115,254

RES ILI ENT BUSHING ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 3, 1938 PATENT orrlcla:

aEsluENT Bosma oscar B. Welker, Middletown, conn., assigner te Albert R, Teare, Cleveland, Ohio, as-trustee Application December 5, 1936, serial No. 114,449

2 Claims.'

` This invention relates to improvements in resilient connections, which embody inner and outer rigid members and an intermediate layer of Arubber or other elastic'material, and the invention.

5 includes an article having improved structural characteristics, which enhance the quality of the nished product, and which vextend its availability for use.- The present applicationis a continuatiorr in part of myc'opending application, Serial No. 76,392 -iiled April 25, 1936.

Many forms of elastic connections, or bushings of the type referred to have been placed upon the market, but experience has shown that there are certain objections inherent in them. For examA ple, in one form, the hollow rubber tube or sleeve has been `assembled by rst compressing it by inserting it into the outer tube and then further compressing it by the use of an expanded mandrel before the inner tube is inserted into place. The resulting connection i's'thereby limited in `length and the stresses are distributed unequally from one end to the other.

Another form of bearing has been made by curing the rubber between concentric tubes. The shrinkage of the rubber during the cooling operation is thendepended upon to place itunder tension. As a result, the rubber is unable to withstand very much repeated torsional movement under load. o Moreover, the rubber being under tension, deflects more than when under compression, thereby allowing the inner tube to move more readily outof center under dead load.

In making a connection of this type, it is important that the rubber be placed under a fairly high degree of stress, and that the stress be distributed uniformly through-out the rubber, for

this uniform distribution results in greater frictional engagement with the inner and outer members and a longer life of the-rubber. An eHort to accomplish this result has includedl a method of manufacture in which the rubber sleeve has been slipped onto an inner tube for a portion of its length and -then compressed by reducing the diameter of the outer tube. This method,`however, did not permit a connection to be made in unlimited lengths. Moreover, it did not distribute the stresses uniformly throughout the length of the connection.

Still another eifort to obtain the desired degree of compression has been to mount the rubber sleeves in tandem between the inner and outer tubes, and then to draw them together axially by the use of bolts. Under this method of manufac- 55 ture, the rubber is not uniformly compressed for the greatest stress is at the ends where the cornpressive force is applied. y 1

A further eiort to overcome the dilculties enumerated has included the curing of a mass of rubber to the inner member and then forcing 5 the assembly endwise .into an outer member. Under such practice however, the rubber cannot ow on the bonded area and hence most of the flow takes place on the unbonded area, and hence the stresses are unequally-distributed throughout 10` the length of the connection. A further objection to the curing operation is the fact that it is too expensive and that the length of bushing produced is limited in length.

An object of my invention is to make a resilil5 entfconnection in which the intermediate layer of elastic material is so stretched at the time of its assembly between the inner and outer members, that the stresses are uniformlydistributed throughout the length of the material.

Referring now tothe drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine for'making the resilient connections in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. `1 and shown on a scale larger than that of 25 Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the torsional bushing; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line l--t in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section showing a modiedform of construction of the stock from which the .elastic sleeves are made; Fig. 6 is a side elevation 30 partly in section of the rubber stock; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the machine; Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sections taken `on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1; Fig. 1,1is a side elevation of an assembled unit before the sections have 35 been cut therefrom; and Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a stress-stretch curve of rubber that is usually used in making torsional connections.

In Figs.v 3 and d, the resilient connectiorrwhichy is made in accordance with my inventioncomd0 prises an inner member it, an outer member ll and an intermediate member l2, all of which are shown as being cylindrical in shape, and ashav ing a common axis. The inner and outer members are preferably-made of metal, while the ind5 termediate member is m'ade of elastic material, such as rubber. It is understood that the inner member may be either tubular or a solid shaft oi a cylindrical shape-or even that of a polygon. 'Ihe present application is concerned with the 50 article that is made by the method hereinafter set forth in detail.

The preferred manner of carrying out my invention comprises the formation of rubber stock into a long tube, the body of which is indicated 65 at I5. One end of the tube is closed and the opposite end is open. The closed end in one form of the invention may be formed by a plug I6, the outer end of which is reduced and is lclosely embraced by the stock. A ring I1 embraces the stock at the reduced neck and cooperates with the plug to impart strength of the stock at the closed end, so as to enable it to withstand the stresses that are incident to the stretching operation. The inner diameter of the stock is substantially equal tothe outer diameter of the inner member I0, while the outer diameter of the stock is larger than the inner diameter of the member I I. Consequently it is necessary to reduce the wall thickness of the stock, and this I accomplish by' stretching it during the assembly operation.

The method by which I insert the elastic sleeve between the inner and outer members comprises the insertion of a long continuous tube Ilia into the stock until the forward end of it engages an annular shoulder 20 at the inner end of the plug I6. The assembled unit is then placed in a machine and moved in an axial direction through a forming die 25, which partially reduces the diameter of the rubber sleeve from whence it is passed into the tube Ila, which further reduces it to the finished size. The tube IIa when removed from the machine becomes the outer member I I of the finished resilient connection.

The machine, which I have shown for stretching the rubber during the inserting operation, may comprise'an open frame, which has sides 30, and ends 3I and 33 respectively. Between the ends there is a cross-member 2|, which supports the die' 25 and there are other cross members 22 and 23 each of which supports one end of a tube Ila. In the illustration shown, the -end member 33 functions likewise as a support for one of the tubes Ila. While I have illustrated the machine as supporting three tubes I la in tandem relationship, it is to be understood that the machine lis capable of use with any number of tubes and that it may be designed for tubes of any length.

To force the stock into the outer member, I have shown an electric motor 35 which is adapted to rotate a gear 36 as by a belt drive 31. The gear 3| has the bore thereof threaded for engagement with a threaded spindle 33, which may be splined to a key 9 in one of the bearing caps 33. The spindle may have one end thereof connected to .a carriage 4I that is mounted for movement along the members 30. The connection is illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 wherein the end of the spindle has a. flange 40 that nts loosely into an opening 26 in a plate 21 that is fastened to the carriage. The carriage is provided with a saddle 42 in which the rearward end of the tube Na is adapted to be supported, the saddle .being U-shaped so that the tube together with.

the assembled stock thereon may be quickly in-. serted within the machine. It is to be understood that the axis of the threaded spindle is coextensive with that of the tube and with those of the tubes Ila. It is understood that" other means of forcing the rubber through the die may be employed, such as pneumatic or hydraulic rams or pistons.

To use the apparatus, the tube Ill-a is inserted 'into the rubber stock until it engages the closed 'I'he same operation is repeated until all of the tubes for which the machine has been designed have been assembled. It is understood that the length of the inner tube and of the rubber stock is such that at the completion of the operation, the reduced neck projects beyond the farmost end of the last outer tube. Thereupon, 'the unitary structure which comprises the tube Ilia, the stretched rubber stock and the plurality of tubes II-a is lifted from the machine and the motor is reversed to return the carriage toits initial position. The assembled unit whlchis shown in Fig. 11 is then c ut into sections as along the lines a--a,' each having a length of the outer tube IIa so that the finished product corresponds to that shown in Fig. 4. If desired, however, the outer tube may comprise an elongated member from which sections may be cut transversely. In such case the tube supports 22 and 23 would be eliminated and the tube would be supported on the end 33.

A modification of the rubber stock is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the forward end thereof is'closed solely by the rubber wall which is reinforced by a thickened portion 30 to resist the stresses that are imparted to it during the stretching operation.' To facilitate the uniform distribution of forces against the rubber, I insert a plug 6I which is rounded to conform to the shape of the inner end wall of the stock, and which has an annular shoulder 62 for receiving the tube Illa. I may also wish to force a rigid ring over the reduced end 60' to reinforce the rubber at this end in the stretching operation.

In making the stock either in the form shown in Figs. 2, 5, or 6, the rubber is cured on a mandrel, which is removed beforel the tube I0a is inserted therein. Inadditioni' the outer surfaces of the tube may be subjected to a grinding operation, so that its wall thickness may be uniform throughout its length. Moreover, to' facilitate the entrance of the stock into the die and also into the outer tubes, I may apply lubricant in the form of vaseline to the outensurface before the stock engages the die; I may also lubricate the outer surface ofthe inner member and the inner surface of the outer member previous to the stretching operation. 'Ihis lubricant greatly reduces the friction between the elastic material and the outside surface of the inner member and the inside surface of the outer member during the stretching operation, and thereby greatly assists in the uniform distribution of stresses throughout the length. of the elastic material.

The reduction in sizeA of the rubber stock 6 the forward end of the advancing unit is unsupported, except by the die, the rubber is free to flow and hence the stretching stresses are dis- 75 I 2,116,254 tributed uniformly. As a result, the nished resilient connection contains confined rubber, which is under a uniform state of stress to which it has been subjected during the forming operation, and hence the resilient connection is capable of withstanding a maximum number of oscili lations Without evidence of fatigue.

The chief advantage of thel article, which is" maintained very uniformly from one end to the other. The amount of stretch which may be obtained is limited only-by the ultimate elongation of the elastic material,` although it has been found that for ordinary torsional connections the amountof stretch need be only 100 to 150% when rubber having a Shore durometer hardness of 60 to 65 is used.

In Fig. 12, for example, there is shown a typical stress-stretch curve` of the rubber that is 'usually used in torsional connections. The diagram in Fig. l2 shows the characteristics of the rubber when stresses up to 1000 lbs. per sq. in. are placed upon it, this being the range that would cover the use of most resilient connections. The ultimate strength ofthe rubber however, may be as high as 4000 lbs. per sq. in. The solid line curve designated 55 in Fig. 12 illustrates the stress-stretch characteristic...,whereas,.the broken line curve designated 56 shows the stress-hardness characteristic of the rubber.

An inspection of the diagram in Fig. l2 shows that whenever the rubber is stretched an appreciable amount, the hardness, and therefore the internal pressure, in the structure of the rubber increases. For example, according to the diagram, whenever the rubber is stretched only 150% the relative hardnessis increased from 60 to 75% or a relative increase of,2l%. Theinternal pressure in the structure of the rubber, as is evidenced by the increase in hardness, exerts a much greater frictional force against ythe walls of the outer and inner rigid members oi' the resilient connection than would be possible if the rubber were not stretched. Moreover, the fact that the rubber is stretched uniformly throughout the length of the article insuresa high frictional engagement with the inner and outer members of the resilient connection, and from one end to the other. In addition, the increase of internal pressure makes the rubber more resilient vto torsional fatigue/and more resistant to deformation and more capable of withstanding high unit bearing pressures. such as are encountered, for example, in spring shackles of automobiles. i f

A further advantage of an article that is made in accordance with the present methodis the fact that the amount of stretch and 'likewise the stress which occurs in the rubber in the nished resilient connection can be predetermined. Conversely, the outside diameter` of the free rubber tube can be predetermined whenever a denite amount of stretch is desired in the nished bushi ing. For example, if one desires p percentage stretch in the rubber of the finished bushing, then` the rubber must 'bestretched an amount equal to the product o'f dii-1)' and original length of the stock, and the cross sectional area'of the free tube will be the product of (100+ l) Y i and the cross-sectional area of the rubber in the iinished bushing. Assuming that: r equals the radius of the inside surface of the rubber in the nished bushing. R equals the radius of the outside surface of the rubber in the nlshed bushing.

' R1 equals the outside radius of l the rfree rubber tube before the stretching operation.

Then fR21rr2=the area of cross-section of rubber in the finished bushing.

The initial cross-sectional area= (Ru) 100+ l) where (R1-r) represents ther wall thickness of the free rubber tube, that is to be stretched p percentage in order to completely ill the space between the two metabmembers of the bushing. a

Experience has shown that when vaseline has a been applied to the outer surface of the inner member and to the inner surface of the outer member, as well as to the rubber tube that is` to be stretched, the rubber can be stretched very the body of the rubber; the action probably conforming to the law of uid friction, whereby the stress applied to the fluid is exerted equally in all directions.`

Accordingly, I have provided a' practical method of predetermining the frictional engagement between' the rubber and the inner and outer members of the torsional bushing, and by this method sumcient stress can be placed in the rub-I ber by a predetermined calculation so as to withstand a specied twisting moment which the rubber is expected to encounter; and by using rubber with a good resista ce to permanent set, the stress in the rubber callei be maintained very near to that calculated over vong periods of time. An important advantage, therefore, of articles which are made in accordance with this method is that the stresses in the rubber and of the frictional engagement between the rubber and the retaining members can be accurately calculated in advance. A further advantage of the method is the fact that the resilient connection may be made in any length and then cut to the desiredsize, or if desired, a large number of short bushings may be made at` one time. The method, therefore, possesses economical manufacturing advantages and assures uniform distribution of stresses in the stretched rubber.

An important advantage of the method disclosed herein isV the fact that the resilient conf nection may be made in any length and then cut to the desired size, or if desired, a large number of short bushings may be made at one time. The method therefore possesses economical manufacturing advantages as well as assuring uniform distribution of stresses in the stretched rubber.

I claimz- 1. A resilient connection having-rigid inner and outer members and an intermediate elastic mem-v ber wherein the intermediate. member is introduced into the outer member after it has been reduced by constriction to a substantially uniform outer diameter whereby the intermediate member is confined under tension upon being released between the Walls of the rigid members with the stresses distributed uniformly and unidirectionally throughout the length of the inter-l mediate layer.

2. A resilient connection having rigid inner and outer members and an intermediate elastic member wherein the intermediate. member is introduced into the outer member after it has been reduced by constriction to a substantially uni-v form outer diameter, whereby the intermediate member is coniined under tension upon being released between the walls of the rigid members with the stresses distributed uniformly and unidirectionally throughout the length of the intermediate layer, said outer member having at least one end thereof flared outwardly.

OSCAR B. WELKER. 

